MIDDLESBROUGH are hoping to pull off a move for former Celtic full-back Lee Naylor after dropping their interest in Sunderland defender Matt Kilgallon.

Boro have been seeking reassurances over the fitness of Kilgallon since last week, when Steve Bruce, the Black Cast boss, revealed the centreback was on the verge of a loan to the Riverside Stadium.

But back problems have failed to clear and now Middlesbrough are looking at alternatives.

Rochdale centre-back Craig Dawson remains a target, with the Spotland club still angling for substantially more than the £400,000 offered earlier this summer.

Gordon Strachan remains keen on adding a new leftback to his squad, and Kilgallon would have provided short-term competition for that role.

The Boro boss has earmarked his former full-back at Celtic, Naylor, as the man he now wants to fill the vacant number three shirt.

The 30-year-old has been training with Cardiff City after being released from Parkhead at the end of last season.

Strachan has moved for the former Wolves defender after already playing Matthew Bates, Justin Hoyte and Joe Bennett at left-back in the absence of Andrew Taylor.

Taylor returned to action for the reserves in yesterday’s win over Scunthorpe, but Strachan has been intent on adding another left-back to his ranks before the transfer window shuts.

After failing to win either of his opening Championship fixtures, Strachan wants to reinvest the finance raised from Brad Jones’ £2.3m sale to Liverpool back into a squad that still lacks pace and creativity.

A couple of new defenders would not provide him with that, but he continues to pursue Dundee United’s winger Craig Conway in the hope the Scottish Premier League club will lower their £1.2m asking price.

It was suggested yesterday Strachan – aware of interest from Swansea in striker Leroy Lita – is also considering a move for Conway’s team-mate Dusan Pernis, a Slovakian international goalkeeper, as a replacement for Jones.

Crystal Palace’s Julian Speroni and Hamilton’s Tomas Cerny remain options.

Boro have been boosted to learn £2m midfielder Kevin Thomson could be back in action within four weeks.

He fractured his fibula at Leicester on Saturday, but feels encouraged by the news his injury is nowhere near to the knee problems he endured during his time with Hibernian and Rangers.

The 25-year-old – who has described the injury as “more like a rip in my tights than a serious injury” – will still miss Scotland’s Euro 2012 qualifiers double header with Lithuania and Liechtenstein next month.

International boss Craig Levein said: “I am disappointed for the player as much as I am about the fact he will not be available to us. Kevin has had some real bad luck with injuries in recent years, some far more serious than this.

“I have no doubt he will come back as good as new but the timing of the injury is especially poor for him because I think he was trying to get back to his best form after accepting a new challenge at Middlesbrough.”

■ Boro’s reserves won their opening fixture of the new season with a 2-0 victory over Scunthorpe United.

Promising left-back Joe Bennett showed his ability to strike a free-kick that dipped in to goalkeeper the bottom left hand corner.

Lee Miller added the second with a simple tap in after Bruno Pilatos’ hard work.

Boro: Ripley; Oliver, Hines, Grounds, Taylor; Pilatos (Reach 75), Emnes, Smallwood, Bennett; Miller, Gray (Roushias 75).

Subs (not used): Smith (gk), Gibson, Weldon.

■ Brad Jones admits he has a tough job on his hands to oust Jose Reina as Liverpool’s firstchoice goalkeeper.

The Australia international is now awaiting completion of his £2.3m move after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.